Page 14 of Shadow Witch

“Why? It’s so cute. Look, it even has a little hat that matches.”

“Very funny, Paige.”

“Oh, I don’t know, little man,” Drucinda said as she grabbed the hangar from Paige. “I think you’d look quite dapper. A little plaid coat and a red bowtie.”

“Really? A red tie? You think I could pull that off?”

“With your coloring? Absolutely, darling.”

Dewey grinned at her as he snatched the hangar. “I’ll take it. Let’s go.”

“That’s how you do it, darling,” Drucinda whispered to Paige.

Paige narrowed her eyes at the woman before she hurried to catch up with them as Dewey sailed toward the checkout counter.

“At least we got the shopping done, and now we can move on. I’d like that soul compass in my hands by Sunday afternoon.”

“Yeah, umm, so would I. Actually, I’d like it by Saturday afternoon, thanks,” Paige said, hoping her aggressive stance made her sound as bold as Drucinda.

“Not going to happen. Learn to put the time in where it’s needed and you’ll be better off.”

Paige wrinkled her nose as Dewey paid for his sports coat. How did Drucinda manage to turn everything she said into an insult?

“Ready, little man?”

“Ready,” Dewey answered with a gin as he sailed toward them with his tiny garment bag in hand.

Drucinda nodded at him before they made their way outside and back to a portal leading home. With Dewey loaded back into his carrier, Paige climbed through the shimmery oval marked PARIS, stepping out next to the dumpster they’d entered through.

Drucinda wove her way through the streets to the library, and they descended to the secret archives underneath.

“All ready?” Ronnie asked as they descended the stairs.

“I think so,” Paige answered with a shaky sigh. She felt anything but ready, but she had to get through it for her mother.

“That’s great,” Devon said as he strode toward them with his phone in hand. “Because we have a major problem.”

CHAPTER 4

Paige’s heart skipped a beat, and heat washed over her as she stared at Devon. “What is it?”

Was her mother no longer alive? Did they finally receive whatever confirmation they’d needed to say it wasn’t a trick or a setup?

She swallowed hard as a lump formed in her throat.

“My dad’s being a pain.”

“What does he want?” Drucinda asked. “Prenup? Blood oath? Oh, Paige turned before the wedding?”

“No, none of those,” Devon said with a shake of his head as he frowned down at his phone.

“No pre-nup?” Dewey asked. “Seriously? Paige, you are going to be set.”

“Of course no pre-nup, little man,” Drucinda said. “He’d never allow them to divorce.”

“Wait a minute,” Paige said with a crinkled brow. “He got divorced.”

“Yes, he did. We’re all still reeling over it. Anyway, what’s the issue?”

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